Vending-machine.



MQL

PATENTED FEB. 26, 1-907.

J. A. WILLIAMS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILE} DEG. 26,1902.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

ii-I- llllllllllll-ill fliL THE NORRIS PETERS ca, wasnmowu, n. c.

- No.845,284. PATENTED FEB. 26, 1907.

J. A. WILLIAMS.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION II LED DEG-26,1902- 2 SHEETS-SHEET B.

UNTTE STATES PATENT orrron JOHN A. WILLIAMS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK,ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES SLOT MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPO- RATION OF NEW YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 26, 1907.

Original application filed February 1'7, 1896, Serial No. 579,574.Divided and this application filed December 26, 1902.

. Serial ITO-136,696.

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN A. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in vendingMachines, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invent-ion pertains to vending-machines, and is in the nature of animprovement upon that set forth in Letters Patent of the United Statesgranted to me December 4, 1894, and numbered 530,148.

The present application is a division of an earlier application, SerialNo. 579,574, filed in my name on the 17th of February, 1896, divisionbeing made in compliance with the requirements of the Patent Ollice andin ac cordance with its classification and subclassification.

The present application is directed particularly to devices forpreventing the fraudulent or unauthorized operation of the machine orthe obtaining of goods without depositing the proper coin or coins. Thecon struction of the cabinet or casing within which the apparatus ismounted and various features of construction of the delivery mechanismare omitted from the present application because embodied in the parentapplication or in another division thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view ofthe delivery mechanism of a vending-machine embodying my improvements,the parts being shown in the position which they assume during theoperation of the machine and when the slide is moved inward aboutonehalf of its travel. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are detail views of thecoinguide and cut-off, Figs. 2 and 4 showing also the magnet forstopping washers or disks of magnetic metal; Fig. 5, a top plan view ofa slide, push-rod, and coin-holder; and Fig. 6, a perspective view ofthe same with the pushrod detached to illustrate the manner of unit ingthe parts.

The present invention is the result of observations made in connectionwith the use of my patented machine above referred to, which, thoughhighly satisfactory, is found susceptible of being made simpler andstronger, as well as more positive and certain in action. So, too, it isfound practicable to more perfectly guard against fraudulentmanipulation.

clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The machine as represented in the drawings comprises a case or cabinetA, within which is secured in a manner not necessary here to bedescribed in detail a shell or body B, within which is contained theoperative mechanism. A magazine O rests upon the upper level of theshell or casing B, which latter is provided with a slot or slots m, oneor more, according as there is but one or are several compartments inthe niagazine. These slots or openings are of less width than thecompartment or compartments formed in the magazine for the reception ofthe goods to be delivered, so that a ledge or support is afforded forthe lowermost package or article, which in turn sustains the columnabove it.

Extending through the shell B, parallel with its front and rear walls,is a horizontal shaft H, upon which are mounted ejector or deliverywheels I, of star form, as shown in Fig. 1. These wheels occoupy thesameposition and perform the same function as the delivery-wheel of the.aforesaid patent, but differ therefrom in that instead of being composedof two star-shaped disks connected by cylindrical cross-bars each is nowformed with a continuous plate or strip of metal a, reaching from onestar-shaped disk to the other and conforming thereto in outline, as Thismodification of the wheel is rendered desirable by the fact that thecross-bars of the former wheels afforded a hold for hooked wires andlike devices and enabled dishonest persons to operate the carriersoccasionally without first depositing the proper coin.

Under the former construction the delivery-wheel or ejector carried aspring-pawl having a \/-shaped nose or spur, which, on tering one oranother of a series of notches in the shaft or axle about which thewheel turned, served to hold the wheel against accidental rotation andto cause the latter part -of its movement to be performed suddenly andwith certainty. Owing, however, to the fact that the spring wasnecessarily of quite limited strength and that the pawl acted near thecenter of the wheel, the available force for holding the wheel or forcompleting its throw was not as great as deemed desirable. I havetherefore substituted for the pawl a spring-pressed cam-plate J of theform shown in Fig. 1, one for each carrier or ejector-wheel. As shown insaid figure, the

cam-plate has three bearing-faces 0, p, and q, the first and last ofwhich bear against opposing faces of two proximate arms of the wheelwhen the latter is at rest, thus holding the wheel quite stronglyagainst rotation.

When power sufficient to turn the wheel is applied, the upper arm of thewheel leaves contact-face q, and the succeeding arm rides upward overface 0, forcing back the cam-plate J until said arm passes the angle ormeeting point of faces 0 and p, whereupon the supporting-spring K of thecam-plate, placed under strain by the outward movement of the latter,suddenly forces the cam plate inward and carries the wheel forward untilsaid plate bears between the succeeding pair of arms of the wheel. Thiscam-plate, acting at the circumference of the wheel and being carried bya strong but elastic spring, gives a very reliable and efficient action.

It will be observed that when the wheel I is at rest one arm stands infront and another in rear of the lowermost package of the column in themagazine, and hence an advance of one'space or the distance from one armto another will cause the rear one of said arms to carry before it saidbottom package or article and to eject it through the opening left forthe purpose in the lower part of the front wall of the magazine, whenceit passes down beneath the guard to the lower level ofthe table. Tofurther prevent the wheel from being surreptitiously turned, I placeinfront of each delivery-opening of the magazine and beneath the shield orguard E a pendulous gate or guard L, which assists in excluding wires orother devices used to turn the delivery-wheel or to withdraw packages.

To actuate the deliverywheels, I employ for each a sliding bar M,provided with a push-rod N and with a lever 0, having a nose orprojection 1, which when the lever is properly rocked or tipped engageswith the delivery-wheel and causes it to make a partial revolution inessentially the same manner as in my former machine. The sliding bars Mare rounded off at their inner ends to facilitate their entrance beneatha retaining and guiding bar or angle-plate s, secured to the rear wallof the shell, and their passage through openings in said rear wall,through which they slide as the push-rods or stems are pressed inward orreturned.

The lever O of each sliding bar is preferably of the form shown in Figs.1, 5, and 6 that is to say, it is longitudinally folded to straddle theupper edge of the sliding bar M, to which it is pivoted and is formedwith an upwardly-projecting nose 1" and a depending arm t at the innerend and with an upwardlyinclined fork-shaped coin-holder u at theforward end.

To pivot the lever to the sliding bar, I employ a shouldered rivet '0,the shoulder of which prevents the compression or drawing together ofthe two walls or leaves of the folded lever, and thus precludes bindingof the lever upon the sliding bar, the body of the rivet being tightlydriven into its hole in one of the walls. This is found of someconsiderable importance in practice, as it is essential that all partswork freely.

Tolimit the descent of the inner end of lever 0, so that it shall notbind upon the upper edge of bar M,and to constitute a means of attachinga spring, I punch or cut from the body of the lever a tongue w, Fig. 5,bending the same at right angles, as indicated. To this spur is or maybe attached one end of a coiled spring 00, the other end of which isattached to the bar M, as shown in Fig. 5 and indicated by dotted linesin Fig. 1. To prevent the lever 0 from tipping too far upwardly at itsrear end, a lug t is cut out of the arm t and bent at right anglesthereto, engaging against the under face of the sliding bar M when therear end of said lever O is in its highest position.

To the lower end of arm t of lever O is attached one end of a long andelastic spiral spring P, the other end of which is made fast to aperforate tongue y, punched from the front wall of shell B and turnedinward, as shown in Fig. 1. Any other convenient means of attachment maybe adopted, though this is simple, cheap, and efiicient. The spring Pserves the double purpose of drawing and holding lever 0 down upon slideor bar M, or assisting to do so, and of drawing and holding said barforward.

The coin-holder u at the forward end of lever 0 is formed integral withother parts of said lever and comprises a bifurcated plate with upturnededges or side walls a and a grooved or channeled shank or neck u Eachside wall '11, is provided with a short inwardly-projecting stud u thedistance between the inner ends of which is such as to preclude thepassage between them of the coin for which the machine is designed.Space is left beneath the studs or between them and the upper face ofthe coin-holder sufficient to permit coins, tokens, or disks thinnerthan the proper coin to pass beneath them, but insufficient to permitthe passage of one of proper thickness. So, too, coins and the like ofproper thickness, but of smaller diameter than the proper coin, willpass between the studs.

The front wall of the shell B s rovided with a slot or opening 2 forcoins in ine with each. coin-holder a, said slots being cut obliquelythrough the metal, as shown in Fig. 1, for the purposes explained in myprior patent. Within the shell B and in alinement with each slot oropening 2 is a coin chute or guide consisting of inwardly-turned lips orflanges b formed upon the beveled walls of a box-like sheet-metal shellQ of the form shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4. This consists of ahorizontal lower plate or bed 1), side walls 6 provided at their upperedges with lateral flanges 72 the side walls being beveled, as shown,and provided with inturned flanges 6 which constitute the coin chuteproper, and with inwardly-pressed bosses b the lower faces of which areparallel with, but separated somewhat from, th flanges 5 thus leaving achannel or passage-way for the coin between them, but preventing theentrance of the coin otherwise than at the angle of the slot andflanges.

The forward part of the bottom 6 of the shell Q is bent upward to form aguard 1), Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, to prevent wires or other implementsbeing passed back through the shell, two small ears 5 being also cutfrom the bottom and turned upward, as shown in Fig. 1, to form abutmentsover which the hooked or notched ends of a permanent magnet R engage, asshown. The magnet rests upon the bottom of shell Q and abuts against therear walls of the bosses b", so that it cannot mowe forward. A pin R,passing over the top of the magnet and through the Walls b of the shell,precludes its lifting up, and the ears b prevent its backwardwithdrawal, so that it is held firmly in place. The forward ends orpoles of the magnet-arms under this arrangement form continuations ofthe upper wal s of the coin-channel, and any magnetic disk or articleintroduced into the coin chute or channel will adhere to said poles.

The ears 6 which are of brass or other non-magnetic material not onlyserve to aid in holding the magnet in place, but they also serve inconjunction with the arm (1 as a stripper for magnetic objects insertedin the machine. If, for instance, an iron washer or disk be inserted, itwill be held by the magnet, and as the arm (1 is pressed inwardly itwill force the disk along off the ends of the magnet and onto the earsI), where the disk will drop off or be forced against a stud S and rideoff. N on-magnetic material is necessary to this action of the ears If.

S indicates a stud, preferably made of iron or steel, projectingdownward from the bottom I) of shell Q near the forward end of thelatter and in such position as to engage any coin, token, or disk heldby the coin-holder as the latter moves inward.

To preclude the insertion of a coin when the slide and coin-holder aremoved inward, I provide a gravitating gate or cut-off T, which is hingedor pivoted in the forward ends of the side walls of shell Q, as shown inFigs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, and I provide the sliding bar M with an uprightarm d, which as the slide moves inward rides beneath the rear end ofsaid gate or cut-off, thereby elevating it and depressing the front end,causing the latter to swing across the coin-slot and to close it, as inFig. 1. The arm d also serves the further purpose of carrying from themagnet-poles anything that may adhere to them but the relative positionsof the coinholder and the arm d are such that the coinholder will moveout of the way of the detached article and permit it to drop into thecoin-receptacle.

In Figs. 1, 5, and 6 I have illustrated a simple and preferred way ofconnecting the sliding bar M, push-rod N, and arm 61. As shown, bar M isprovided with tenons e to enter mortises in the body of plate or arm cl.It is also provided with an opening to receive the inner end of rod N,which latter is slotted to straddle bar M and is passed through anopening in plate or arm d. When the parts are duly assembled, as inFigs. 1 and 5, two pins or rivets are passed through the rod and thebar, one of which passes also through ears of plate (1, as in Fig. 5,thus binding all together. The n anner of introducing the sliding bars Mis indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. Being too long to enterdirectly, they are started at an angle and afterward raised to properlevel, as shown. It will be noted that the earn-plate J enters the shellB through an opening in the rear wall of the latter and that its upperextremity projects through an opening in the top of said shell, the endof which opening limits the rearward movement of the cam-plate. Slidingrod M is provided with a stop to limit its movement and preventstraining of spring P.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: If a proper coin be passedthrough the coin-slot, it will glide down the flanges of ways 6 and intothe coin-holder it, descending therein until its edges are arrested bythe studs. The push-rod N is then pressed inward, and the coin cominginto contact with stud S causes lever O to rock upon its pivot, thusthrowing its inner end upward and causing its nose 1" to engage with anarm of wheel I and to partially rotate said wheel. As the coin-holdermoves beneath the stud. S the support of the coin passes beyond thestud, which consequently rocks the coin upon the edge of the holder andeffects its discharge therefrom. Before this occurs, however, the arm ofwheel I, which at the outset bore against face 0 of cam-plate J, ridesoff said face and passes the angle or meeting point of faces 0 and p,whereupon the cam throws the wheel quickly forward, ejecting thelowermost package or article quickly and certainly. If a magnetic diskinstead of a coin be inserted, it is first caught by the poles of themagnet and later swept therefrom into the coin-receptacle, and the sameis true of a magnetic washer. If a washer of non-magnetic material andof due thickness be introduced, it will be withdrawn from thecoin-holder by the stud S, which enters its central opening, andconsequently presents no bearing-surface between the end &

of said stud and the end of lever a. Disks or washers thinner than theproper coin and not magnetic will pass beneath the studs a and fall intothe coin-receptacle without causing the engagement of the actuatingslide and ejecting-wheel. Disks of lead, paper, glass, and othermaterials not possessing the necessary stiffness and strength will bebent, broken, or indented by the stud S and drawn out of the holder, sothat it will be impracticable to operate the device without using aproper coin or a metal disk of practically equal or greater intrinsicvalue, as brass, copper, or the like.

Upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the box or shell Qis provided on its under face I) at its rear end with an arm or clearerS, extending downwardly therefrom, its front face being beveled, asshown in Fig. 4. The toe or point of the beveled portion extends beneatha rounded or upwardly-extending recess b formed in the shell Q. Thisrecess provides a greater clearancespace for the coin when tipped thanwould be the case were the under face extended straight across. The toeand beveled face of arm S clear the fork u as it is pushed rearwardly ofany paper which may be inserted therein, which is oftentimes done. Whenpaper is inserted in the machine, it tends to elevate the rear end ofthe gate T, and consequently close the slot 2, and to provide for itswithdrawal said gate is formed with a recess T to permit the insertionof a wire or rod by which it can be picked out. The arm d passes betweenthe poles of the magnet every time the machine is operated and. actswhen in such position as a keeper for the magnet. This feature of themachine is of the greatest importance, for, as is well known, if amagnet be left without its keeper it will soon lose its magnetic action.The bar M and the arm d are of course formed of magnetic material.

In Fig. 1 I have shown in dotted lines a construction of thedelivery-wheel I, made up in sections, the different sections beingriveted together to form the wheel.

It is obvious that details may be varied more or less within the scopeof my invention, as by using castings or forgings for parts heredescribed, as of sheet metal bent to shape, or by proportioning theejector-wheel to handle articles of a different character, form, or sizeby making the same solid or by connecting the slide and push-rod in adifferent manner, &c. I do not, therefore, mean to limit myself strictlyto details herein shown and de scribed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In avending-machine, the combination of a casing having a wall provided witha vided with upright walls 11 at opposite ends of the coin-slot, withinclined guides or flanges 6 extending downward obliquely from the wallin which the coin-slot is made, and with bosses b projecting inwardabove said flanges; and a magnet R having its poles fashioned andarranged to form continuations of the lower faces of said bosses,

the bosses and magnet-poles being substan tially parallel with saidflanges.

2. In combination with the shell or casing of a vending-machine, havinga substantially horizontal coin-slot; a shell Q within said. casing,provided with a substantially horizontal bottom I), upright side walls17 fastoning-flanges b guiding-flanges I) extending obliquely downwardfrom the coinslot and projecting inward from the Walls b and bosses bprojecting inward from the walls 6 above the flanges b and a magnet Rsecured in said shell Q, and having its poles carried into closeproximity to the flanges b and substantially parallel therewith.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination of a shell Q provided withflanges b to support and guide a coin, bosses b to prevent said coinfrom lifting, and ears I); a magnet having its poles adapted to fit overor engage with said ears and to abut against the bosses; and a pinpassing through the walls of the shell and over the magnet,substantially as shown and described.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination of an inclined coin-chutehaving on its lower side coin-supporting flanges; a magnet having itspoles arranged above said flanges and substantially parallel therewith;and ears 6 of non-magnetic material, adjacent to said poles and forminga continuation of the walls or faces formed by said poles, substantiallyas and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a vending-machine, the combination of a coin-chute; a magnethaving its poles arranged in proximity thereto and in position toattract and hold magnetic substances passing through or over said chute;a slide for actuating the delivery mechanism; and a magnetic arm ormember movable with said slide and serving when the slide is operated,to pass-between the poles of the magnet and act as akeep er therefor tomaintain its proper magnetization.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination of a containing shell or casingprovided with a coin slot or opening; a shell Q within said casingprovided with a coin way or chute, and with non-magnetic ears W; amagnet R mounted within said shell Q and having its poles arranged inproximity to the coin chute or way and forming a continuation of thenon-magnetic ears if; a slide for actuating the delivery mechanism ofthe vendingmachine; and an arm d of magnetic material coin-slot; a shellwithin said casing, proi adapted to pass between the magnet-poles andbetween the ears 6 substantially as set I In testimony whereof I havesigned my forth, whereby it is adapted to remove Tom name to thisspecification in the presence of 10 the magnet-poles any bfidy adheringthereto, two subscribing witnesses.

to can" t 1e same to t e non-magnetic ears where cannot be held bymagnetic attrac- J01 {N WILLIAMS tion, and to pass between the poles ofthe WVitnesses:

magnet and thus act as a keeper for the mag- H. C. RAWLEY,

net to preserve its proper magnetization. F. J. MAsTERsoN.

